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Here is the next chapter!
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"Harper, come on rise and shine," Roe said gently shaking her.
Malarkey and Hoob were still working on the shackles. They had managed to pry one open far enough to get her hand through, but her wrist was raw and bloody.
"Wrap that up," said Roe.
Roe slid a hand behind her neck, preparing to lift her to a sitting position, but he stopped. Something clinked against his ring.
"What is it Roe?" Hoob asked when he stopped moving.
Roe didn't answer, but twisted her necklace around. There, shining in the dim light were two dog tags.
"She's a soldier," Malarkey said.
It wasn't a question. For thirty seconds they all stared at the tags, too surprised to move. Roe came out of the surprised trance. He brought the tags close to his eyes and read aloud.
"PFC Lewis, 2nd Battalion, Rangers, Charlie Company."
The men glanced around at each other.
"What do we do?" asked Hoob.
"Wake her up," Liebgott answered. "Come on soldier wake up."
Helightly slapped her face.
"Oww," she hissed, opening her eyes a little.
"There you go take it easy," Roe said helping her sit up.
He put a canteen to her lips. As soon as the water touched her lips, she greedily sucked at it.
"Slowly," Roe said, a small smile touching his lips.
He tipped the canteen back, but she followed it.
"Jesus, when was the last time you had a drink?" Luz asked helping Roe hold her up.
"About a week ago," Harper rasped.
Luz had only been joking, and had not expected to get such a depressing answer. He looked over Harper's head at Roe who still had a smile in his eyes, although his face was worried. Harper suddenly looked around for Lenore. She left Perconte's arms and crossed the room. She took Harper's hand.
"Lets get out of here," Harper said.
Lenore smiled and said," Its about time."
Harper abruptly tried to stand, but Roe and Luz caught her arms.
"Easy sol-" but the always awkward Hoob stopped himself mid word.
"You are allowed to call me soldier. I am one," Harper said addressing Hoob without looking at him.
She tried to pull out of Roe's hold, but he easily puller her back to the ground.
"Soldier or not, you need to take it easy."
Suddenly someone yelled from above them.
"Roe! Where is Doc Roe?"
Roe slapped Luz on the back."Get her out of here, but she does nothing on her own."
Roe dashed back up the stairs, but the heavy Cajun accent didn't go unnoticed by Harper or Lenore. They smiled at one another as Harper tried to get up again.
"Oh no," Luz said pulling one of her arms over his shoulder and puling his free arm around her waist. "Roe said you couldn't do this alone."
Harper grumbled, but let him hoist her up. Once standing, however, she was glad to have him to lean against. She hadn't stretched her legs properly for weeks.
"Take it easy," Luz said smiling as she almost fell backwards.
"So what's your name?" Harper asked him trying to stand on her own again.
"George Luz," he said shaking her hand.
"Harper Lewis," she said smiling.
"Well miss Lewis, lets get you and your friend out of here."
"I want my gun," Harper said turning Luz toward a staircase that led into the house above.
"Beg your pardon?" Luz asked.
Harper held up her dog tag.
"I'm a sniper. I want my Springfield back. Its in the house.
"I'll get it," Hoob said.
"I'll go with him," Liebgott offered.
"Don't hurt it!" Harper yelled after them.
The rest of them went outside. Lenore hid her eyes in Perconte's shoulder from the sun. Harper blinked and shielded her eyes with her hand. It had been months since she and Lenore were outside. Harper closed her eyes and breathed deep. The fresh hair stung her lungs and she coughed.
Luz laughed and patted her back.
"You alright? Fresh air takes a little getting used to."
He handed her his open canteen. After she finished coughing she took it and drank deeply. After draining the entire thing, she was able to stand on her own, though she could not make Luz leave her side no matter what she said or did. At that moment Hoob and Liebgott came out of the house with her rifle slung over Hoob's back. When they reached her, he handed it over and she smiled lovingly at it.
After carefully checking her rifle and realizing the Germans hadn't done anything horrible to it she put it over shoulder and followed the men toward the fence that enclosed the majority of the women.
"Hey Perconte why don't you take her back to camp? Get her cleaned up and some food," Malarkey suggested.
Perconte glanced down at Lenore who nodded. Hoob went with them.
"Hey send Toye and Guarnere down here. We are going to need some heavy lifters."
Perconte nodded and led Lenore away from the camp. She touched Harper's shoulder as she passed and Harper patted her hand.
"Ill come find you when I'm done her," Harper said.
Lenore nodded.
Malarkey said, "You know you have been through a lot soldier or not. You don't have to come with us."
Harper shook her head in a way she knew would have made Jackson laugh. The thought of the sniper almost made her break down right there.
"I need to see what was going on here. Weston and my father never let me out off the basement."
"Whoa hold up," Luz said. "Your father?"
"Yeah he is around her somewhere I'm sure. If you find him he will pretend to be a German to get out of death. Also if you find him, don't hurt him."
"What?" Malarkey asked surprised. "If he did this to you, you should want his head on a platter."
Harper was going to answer but she saw him being drug out of a truck.
"Hey Luz right?" Harper asked him.
"Yeah," Luz answered.
"Can I see your side arm?" Harper asked.
"Why. I-"
"Just give me your damn side arm," Harper said holding her hand out.
Luz glanced around at the guys, and handed Harper his side arm. She took it and stormed toward her father. Two older guys were holding him against the side of the truck while a big guy was getting women out of the back of the truck. Harper didn't really see any of them. This was the first time she had had any kind of power over her father, and she wasn't going to waste it.
She shouldered her way past a tall blond guy and grabbed her father by the back of the shirt. She tossed him to the ground and kicked him in the side. Speirs and Buck went to jump on her, but Luz and Malarkey stopped them.
Her father started up at her, his eyes hard and the smile she hated plastered on his face. She set her jaw and pulled the trigger until the magazine was empty. She kept pulling the trigger until someone's hand was on her arm. They took the gun from her then turned her to face them. It was Luz.
"You alright?" he asked.
Harper signed and nodded. She turned and looked at her father's corps.
"He deserved torture, but this. This was good."
Luz glanced around at his comrades just as someone shouted from the other side of the field at the trees. Harper was sure she heard her name so she turned to look. When she saw seven men standing against the tree line her heart almost leapt out of her chest. The tall sniper was easy to recognize standing between the B.A.R gunner and her brother. One word escaped her in a whisper no one could hear.
"Jackson."
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